In what could have been a rather dry work of non-fiction the author wonderfully captures the tension and increasing desperation of all parties, lending a thriller-like quality to the read.

By today's standards Aldinton's expose (published 1955) appears tame enough - second hand revelations about Lawrence's illegitimacy and the questioning of some of the more ridiculous assertions made about Lawrence's antics and intellect (riding camels for three days non stop, being able to read four books at once - that kind of thing).

What Aldinton did not envisage was that Lawrence's devoted followers (many of whom had never met him - he died in 1935) would so aggressively defend his memory. The "Lawrence Bureau", as Aldington christened them, would countenance no criticism of their deceased hero's legend. Much of the book's entertainment derives from this acid depiction of the higher echelons of the British establishment doing their utmost to spike Aldinton's guns, embarking upon a dirty tricks campaign that would have done Alistair Simms's character in School for Scoundrels proud.

It is fair to say that Aldington, himself a veteran of WW1 and a victim of mustard gas poisoning, passionately disliked Lawrence and considered the whole "Uncrowned King of Arabia" legend nothing more than distasteful propaganda and a slap in the face for the many men, like himself, who had fought in Europe. (A floor plaque in Westminster Abbey, London, commemorates Aldinton's service in the First World War.)

This passion fuelled Aldinton's desire to see his book in print, whilst contributing to his weakening mental state as publication became more and more unlikely. Also, for health reasons, Aldington wrote a good part of his book in France, which fact abetted his sense of isolation and depression.

The great irony of the Aldington debacle is that it was only a few years after publication of his book that details of Lawrence's penchant for flagellation became known, which, combined with the famous, if inaccurate, film wiped away the legend of the pristine-white matinee idol and cemented the flawed character of Lawrence indelibly in the British consciousness.